Combined cabinet and drawer with compressing and signaling means



Feb. 1, 1949. M. EFFROS ET Al. 2,460,572

COMBINED CABINET AND DRAWER WITH COMPRESSING AND SIGNLING 'MEANS FiledNov. 1e, 194s 8/ 0 Y @3 5. 6/ 62 77 J v THE/R ATTORNEY Petenfed Feb. 1,1,949

UNITED STATES PATENT ormone:-

COMPRESSING Milton Eros,

Application. November 16, 19.43,V

24 claims. (c1. 45e-2l This invention relates to iiling cabinets. Theinvention, although applicable in many other relations, will bedescribed herein specifically ink relation to its use inV file cabinetshaving drawers for storing the cards usedin tabulating machines. Thesecards generally are of very thin stock; large numbers of them are fed.automatically into the tabulating machine, and there produce the desiredaccounting, printing or similar result. Inorder that the card fed to themachine may cooperate properly with `the machinein producing the desiredresult, the card may Anot be distorted. In fact, the card must, at thetime of its .movement into cooperation .with the machine,

maintain substantially aat condition, as ,any

marked bowing of the card may hinder proper operation of the tabulating,machine. For .instance, the bowed card may jam the apparatus.

The cards, when not in use, are stored inthe drawer, and are disposedsubstantially vertically, that is, on edge, to facilitate rindividualinspection and handling. In order to prevent bowing of.;the cards, thecards, when they are'not being inspected or otherwise handledindividually, are maintained in their drawers under suicient pressure.to causethe cards to retain their substantially flat state. f A slidablewall, orfollower block, is associated with the drawer'for that purpose.This follower blockis pushed up against the cards arranged in the drawer-until engagement takes place; thenthe block is forced further until 4nofurther movement can occur. Mechanism is provided as a part of thedrawer structure to lock the blockin this last position. Y e

However, operatives, whose duty it is to supervise the cards in thedrawers,` and assure that the cards are under proper compression, mayoverlook this necessity, fail to push the block into therequiredposition, and leave the cards to become distorted. The resultantsagging, and, finally, bowing, of the cards, may become permanent, sothat the cards would be uselessy for properly operating a tabulatingmachine. 1

It is an object ofv the invention to provide mechanism for disposing awarning, to be seen by operatives, regarding the condition of the Vcardsin a le cabinet drawer, so that an operative may then insure that thefollower block be moved into proper pressure-applying position.

It is an object of the inventionto provide mechanism, in conjunctionwith a cardstorage drawer, to insure againsty closing the drawer unlessthe follower block had been adjustedk properly for maintaining the cardsinV the drawer under compression. l e, e

invention AND SIGNALING MEANS New York, fami oneness." Mins, FloralPark, N. Y j

serial No. 510,485

` 2 It is an object of the invention to providenvapparatusg inassociation -with `a cabinetacard storage drawer of the cabinet, and a,follower block therewith associated, for assuring that the followerylock will b e moved automatically into cardecompressing positionl whenit is attempted to move theA drawer into housed relationship in thecabinet if `the followerblock has not already been manipulated tovcardcompressing position.

,Itis an objectrof the invention to provide, in association withapparatusoperating automatically to prevent closing of the `drawerunless materialvstored therein, such as cards, has been placedunder,compressiommechanism for making such apparatus inoperative inthe,v event that the draweris moved to drawer-closing position when the,drawer contains substantially no material to beplaced under compression.n e l ,f It is an object of the invention to provide mechanism, inassociation with a drawer, the cabinet with-which suchvdrawer isassociated, and Aapparatus for'preventing closing of the drawer untilthe material contained in the drawer has been placed underv propercompression, to assure `that thedrawer may be opened withoutinterference from such apparatus in the event such apparatusshouldvaccidentally become released.y

Other Objectsoi this invention, will be set forth hereinafter, or willbe apparent from the description andthe drawings, inwhich is illustratedan embodiment of apparatus for carrying out the lfI'he invention,however, is not intended to be restricted to any particularconstruction, or to any particular arrangement of parts, or to anyparticular application of any such construction or any such arrangementof parts, or to any specic method of operation, or to any of the variousdetails thereofeven where specifically shown and described herein, asthe same may be modedin `various particulars, or ymay be applied in manyvrvaried relations, without departing from the lspirit and scope of .theclaimed invention, a practical construction lembodying certain detailsofthe invention being illustratedv and describedbut`only f orthe purposeof complying with the requirements of the statutes for disclosure ofoperative embodiments, and without attempting to disclose ,allfoffthevarious forms and modications in which the invention might be embodied..f

On the drawings, in which the same reference characters referto the sameparts throughout, and in ywhich is ,disclosed such practicalconstruction: l

4lis a view ofla card drawer vhaving a fole lower block mounted therein,and embodying the invention, the view being in transverse verticalcross-section, and looking rearwardly into the drawer, parts of theblock guiding and retaining apparatus and the cabinet for the drawer notbeing shown;

Fig. 2,is a view similar to Fig. 1, taken in the opposite direction, andparts of the bloc-k. guiding and retaining apparatus being shown, partsthereof being broken away, and the cabinet for the..

drawer not being shown; and

Fig. 3 is a view, in vertical crossisection, substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1, showing the drawer extended into the drawer opening of acabinet, only portion of the cabinet and of the cards to be containedtherein being shown, the drawer being broken away, and different.positions of the signalling means being illustrated in dotted anddot-and-dash lines.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view taken on line 5-'-5 of Fig.l 2.

On the drawings, a portion of a storage cabinet I6 is shown. `Just aportion of the front' wall vI2 is illustrated; an opening I4 throughw'a1l`I2 provides access for sliding a card drawer AI6 into and out ofhoused relation to cabinet I0. The particular details of construction ofcard drawer I6, or of the suspension of thedrawer for sliding movementthrough opening I4, are not believed necessary for illustration.

The drawer'may include side Walls I8, a bottom 26 and a front wall 22.Front wall 22 may be of reinforced construction, and may have extendingsections 24 and 26, which, together with'wall 22, completely close theopening I4 formed infwall I2 between cross-pieces 28, when the drawer ismoved into the cabinet to housed position. Drawer I6 may be mounted in acradle (not shown) of any desired construction in-order -that it may beextended from the cabinet to as great a degree as possible, for makingsubstantially 'the entire storage space 36 of the drawer accessible.Angle irons 32 may be mounted on side walls I8 for cooperation with suchsupporting elements.

In the drawer is mounted means for placing material stored therein undercompression. lSuch means may take the form of a follower block' 34slidable through space 36. ASuch block may -be of any desiredconstruction. For instance, it may be formed of sheet metal to provide aplate36, terminating in a channel formation 38 at the top of the plate.The edges 40 may be spaced from walls I8 and bottom 2D.

In order to guide block 34 in its movement through space 36, walls I8may be bent or otherwise formed to provide channels 42. An angle 44 4maybe secured to a walll 46 ofthe recess' 48v in each of channels 42 toprovide grooves V5I). The bases' 52 of a pair of L-shaped` members-54are aflixed adjacent the top of plate 36 so that arms 58 of members 54extend forwardly from block 34. Arms 58 take the form of angles each ofwhich has'an horizontal leg 66. This'legfis received in groove 50 and isguided thereby as the legs, with plate 36, are slid along the drawer.The nesting of legs 66 in grooves 5D serves to rigidify block 34 andholds it against cocking'as it slides along the drawer.

The block may beprovided with suitable mechlanism to retain it in aposition to whichit may have been adjusted, and thus prevent the blockfrom moving backwards along the drawer'under 'the `pressurel of thecompressed cards; *lSuch the face of each` arm 58 towardsits recess 48 avringer 64 formed with a point 66 is pivoted at 1I.

"Finger 64 has an end 61 formed with an opening 69 into which end 63 ofarm 62 seats. Thus movement of arms 62'about their pivots will causemovement of lingers 64 about pivots 'II. Springs 68; anchored betweenarms 62 and plate 36, serve 'to' move arms 62y and the associatedfingers 64 automatically to jamA points 66 against faces 'IIJ of angles44, this being the normal position.

Thus, such engagement prevents movement of block 34 rearwardly of space30. However, points 66 have such direction, as appearsin Figi 3,. that,onr movement of l blockl 34. forwardlyV ofthe drawer, release ofsuchengagement ensues,: andthe block is free to move, the points slidingover facesf'IU. Block l34 may not bemoved away, fromfwall`22 unlesspoints iilarefdisengaged fromxfa'ces 16. The conventional nnger 'I6actuates-a slide-LTI. Thel slide hasilanges "I6 which are: retained for`sliding movement with relation to .plate36 by means of ears 8| struckafr'omk or-otherwisezprovided on'thexsplate. .Arms 624 have their. endscaught inout-outs 3 in slide 'I1 and are moved, by movement of slide.'II,\to rock iingersfr64 for disengaging `pointszf from faces 16.:.-Springs 68 return the4 parts so thatlpoints 66 re-engage facesCarriedfupon plate 36 at its rear face 18 are a pair of'brackets '86.Each bracket: has anend bent and slotted to provide a pairfofnears 82. Apivot pin 84 isprovided a'loose bearing in .each pair of ears. A-nger86, mounted on-,` and xed relativelyto pivot pin 84'by means oaset-screw 88, is positioned between. a pair of .ears 82. .1' Finger 36extends forwardly from itsbracket `80 through a yslot 9.6:in plate 36.to provide an Aengaging section 92 `extending beyond front face -94A of;plate Y36.

Finger 86 includes a rearwardly Yextending arm 96 .which is receivedwithin a fork 68-formed in thelower end of a rod |00. yArmvlliiand'forked end 98 .are loosely pinned together to provide a `pivotalconnection IIJZ. Rod I6() 'is mounted for sliding movement through abracket' |64, secured to a iiange I66 Aof channel ,formationi A spring|68 may be engaged on bracket'v N14-andI` on pivot pin "|82, andtends'normally tomove rodlllfvertically, and to `move finger 86 to aposition in v-frontlotface 94 of plate 36. Rod' |06 is-'ofA su'ch-length that,-when spring |08 is elective as just indicated, the rodwill extend beyond the.upper in the drawer, spring |48 moves rod`I-Il6fup above 'the top edge ofwall 22; iinger 66 lis thenl positionedin frontv of plate 36. Drawer I6 cannot' be `movedinto cabinet IIJ'since rod IIlll willengage front wall I2 atV cross-piece28, ascan'beseen from Fig. 3. However, when-cards orl like `material engage. againstface 94,1' and, '-therefore; are eifective to move iinger- 86throughslot 90by pressing against section 92 and overcoming the andereeffect of lspring |08,.rod willbe moveddown to rthe positionshowniinI-dot-and-dashllinesin Fig. 3, vand will not be'above the toplevelLof'rfront wall .22 andits section 24.5. Thus,.in the firstposition,.rod |00 will be in position to engage crosspiece. 28. In theretracted position, the drawer may be moved .in and out of thecabinetwithout interference from rods |00. a y i L Of course, if thevoperative.shouldattemptto push the drawer into the cabinetfagainst`.the vrresistance of rods |00, the engagement of .rodslllwithfcross-piece 28 .will cause block. -34 to1move through thedrawenpoints 66 slidingioverfaces '10;A until. front edges V||0 of.arms-,.58 engage against,y stopV sections 2. at the; endsofv recesses48. .By reason of the length of arms 58,'the drawer still will .notclose if nocards are fin .the drawensince nothing has engaged finger 86,thus spaced fromwall 22,..to.mo.vexrod |00'downwardlyto clearlthe bottomedge .I I4 of cross-piecef28. .'-If cards I6 are' located in space30,nger. 86 is engaged against.V these .cards as platev 36 is drawer-isimoyedzeto .fdpengposition, such :cam .face wil1': engage. withini the.cabinety against the; edge of v.the obstructingfpart, as shownin dottedlines inFig. 3...Asvface .|28 engages against thiscrosspiece, it'w'illtendi` to .push .rod `|00 downwardly againstitheaction. of. spring .|08,s-o thatthe rod can "thenslidealongthe bottom face of the obstructingportion until the rod or rods are free of thecabinet, atywhich .positionthe vrods can then bemanipulated manually. l. y Y f .':In lorderfioetterto warn an operative .as to; the conditionofizthe fcardstwi-thin adrawer, a lvisual signalimaybeassociated with front wall 22. Inthis1case,an opening |30Imay be provided inthe -f'rontsection .f.|32offront wall 22. A pivoted b ell crank |34 maybe l.mounted ona bracket|36-on the-.inner section |38 of w-all 22. One arm` of crank |34=maycarry a signal iiap |40, which,

. under suitable conditions, `would be seen through moved intoengagement with such cards. .@.The l tension of spring |08 issuicienttokeep. finger 86 'extended until thecards have. been pushed by .blockv34 into abutment with face ||8 of front wall 22. Then,lcontinuedmovementof. block: 34 will cause compression. of the cards,and, therefore, pivoting of finger 86 against the actionof spring |08tozmovelrods |00 downwardly until the top edges .|20V of the rods havecleared edge H4. Then, and ynotfuntil fthen', is itipossible topush thedrawer completely intothe cabinet; atsuch tima-'of lcourse, the` cardshave already been placed underthedesired compression. n' Prior tomovement of the'drawer to `compress the cards in this manner, extensionof rods |00 -above the top level of the `drawer will signal .that thefollower block hadfnot been manipulated'properly. YAs a matter of fact,the cracklofthe' Irod against the front wall of the cabinet is .sufcientto'lwarn that theundesired condition existed. Of course, it is vpossiblemanualb7 to moveblock 34 to compressing position when thev signalledconditi-on is observed.` i* n f In those cases, however, where suoientvcards are not present in the storage space, that is,1.the drawer issubstantially empty, andfstill ity isidesired to close the drawer,mechanism must `be provided forr'eleasin'g rods |00 from interferingvwithsuch closing movement. kFor this purpose,

pin 84 is extended'into anarm |22. Arm` |22 extends beyond plate 36towards channel 42, and

-particularlyfa face |24"ofthe channelfiOnface |24, a raised portion|2|8 may be formed; inathis case, a small plate is applied on face v|24and forms a projection into space 30. Portion'l26 is positioned so'vthat,- just before arms 58 engagey stop'section ||'2, the vend portion0f arm .|22 will be engaged by portion |26, and. arm |22 will be rockedtoY pivot nge-r 86l and move. rods |00 'downwardly into the drawer outof closing-preventing position; Y f

It may occur. that the mechanism, including member V54, pointsy 66 andfaces 10, may be released accidentally when the drawer is in completelyhoused position. In such Casemods. |00

Ywould become extendedfupwardly by springs |08,

and the rods would then'prevent'movementffof the drawer to open`position as thel rods would engage the inner :faces of cross-piecez28,or simi'- vlar par-ts'Y of the f-inner structuref'ofthe cabinet. Inorderrto avoid this undesired'conditiongsrod |00, at its upperend., is formedwith; azca'miace 4.28.1;-inc1incd-z-gingandirection; suchthat,:zas;l.the

opening|30.. The other arm |42 of thecrank m'ayextend; through aslot |44in sectionV |38,t.o

provide yaniinger for engagement by cardsqvvithinl thei'drawer.-A..coiled spring |46 on pivotr |48 functions'between'crank |34 andsectionf|38sso that` nap-440 would .normallybe positionedatopening.`|30...'When cards, however, would: be compressedagainst section|38 by follower block 34,.the.cards will engage `arm |42 and movethecrankagainst spring |46 to cause'flap |40. to move away-from and n-ot beclearly'fapparent as a signalateiopening |30. Therad-or instance, ifflap-|40 be colored red, this red signal would only appear-in the eventyeither no cardsare `in `the cabinet yor Athe cardshave not beencompressed against vsection |38. Thus, a supervisor would be ableimmediatelytodetermine what drawersaare beingusedproperly, withoutopening the drawers themselves, and" also to determine whether thefollower blocks lin full drawers had become re..-

leased."y accidentally. i Many other changes could be eiected inftheyparticular apparatus. designed, and inthe method of operation setforth, andin specicldetails thereof,.."without `substantially rdepartingfrom from the invention defined in the claims., the specie'fdescriptionbeing merely vof an operative em- `loodiment'capable of illustratingIcertain yprinciples'of the invention: i 'f What-is claimedas' .'newanduseful is: 2l. -A followeriblock for a card-retainingdrawer of acabinet, .wherein the drawer is capable of retaininga-.plurality of`substantially identical cards in substantiallyl vertical position, andwherein'theffollower block is movable into positionv to z'compressrthecards in the drawer to cause allof them simultaneously to assume thesubstan- `tallyxvertical position, the follower blockhaving a`wall-'for'engagement against the cards for forcing them.-'into`yposition-means carried by the block ;to^beI engaged bythe cards'inthe-drawer for signalling;4 theoperative .relation of the block :to

the cards; :the signalling means including a movfable; finger carried bythe Awall 4and extending tof wards cards to be compressed, meansnormally .projecting beyond the bounds of the drawer, and

means controlledby the finger for withdrawing 2. A followerrr-blockffor'ricard-retaining drawer vofra'cabinetgzwherein thek drawer-is capableof retainingnatr :plurality ofY substantially .identical fcards. aina@7substantially fyertical.f.position;:. and

agreeing wherein the follower block 'is Lmovable into. position tocompress the cardsin thedrawer to cause all of them simultaneously toassume the substantially vertical position,L theV follower block havinga wall'for engagement against the cards for forcing them into position,meanscarried byV the block to be engaged by the cards in the drawer forsignalling the operative relation'of the block tothe cards, thesignalling means including; a movable nger carried by the walland-extending towards cards to be compressed,` and means mounted vformovement between a position-below the top level of the block and toproject above the top level of the block, the finger providing means forretracting the projection means vfromfa position above the top level ofthe block.

3. The combination with a cabinet, and r a drawer mounted for movementinto and ont of ther cabinet through an opening in a wall of thecabinet, the drawer `providing kmeansf0r vretaining a plurality ofvcards in stacked relationship, oiv means in the drawer for compressinglthe stacked cards, a signal, and means tending normally to move thesignal beyond the extent of the drawer into position to indicate thecompressing means to be in ineffective relation tothe cards, and meansfor operation by the compressed cards when the compressing means hasbeen effective properly to compress the cards to move the signal out ofthe ineiTective-indicating position,

4. The combination with a cabinet, and a drawer mounted for movementinto and out of the cabinet through :an opening in a wall of thecabinet, the drawer providing means for retaininga plurality of cards instacked relationship,

compressing position to which it has been ad` justed, a member carriedby the adjustable wall, and means for maintaining the member in positionto be engaged by a portion of the cabinet to move the adjustable wall tocompress cards in the drawer when the'drawer is moved into housedrelation.

5. The combination with a cabinet, and `a drawer mounted for movementlintorand out of the cabinet through an opening ina wall ofthecabinet,`the drawer providing means for retaining a plurality of cardsin stacked relationship, of a wall adjustable in the drawer forcompressing the stacked cards, means for retaining theadjustable wallagainst movement out. of'a cardcompressing position to which ithasbeen:ad-

justed, a member carried by the adjustableV wall, f

and means to project the member into position to engage thewall of thecabinet when theadjustable wall is not in compressingV engagement ablewall to compress cards in the'drawerwhen 'the drawer is moved intohoused relation.

6. The combination with a cabinet, landa drawer mounted for movement`into and out-of the cabinet through an opening in a wall ofthe cabinet,the drawer providing means forv retaining aV plurality of cards instacked re1ationship,`

with cards within'the drawer to move the adjusti 8 cabinetpthe drawerproviding means for retainingfta'plurality of cards in stackedrelationship, oflawvall .movable in thevdrawer for compressingthefstackedcardsya signalA carried by the movable-wall, means tendingnormally to move the 'signal relatively tothe movabley wall and thecabinet to indicate the position of the movable wall in relation to thecards, and means carried bythe movable Awall and for engagementby cardsbeing compressed to move the signal out of the normal position.

l8.1'Ihe 'combination with .a cabinet, land a -drawermounted formovement into and out of the cabinet throughan openingin a walloi thecab- -inet,the drawer providing means for retaining a plurality! ofcards -in stacked relationship, of `a wall adjustable in thedrawer forcompressing the 'stacked cards, means for retaining the adjustable wallagainst movement out of a position to which it has beenadjusted, meansfor interfering with movem'entof the'drawer into housed relationship inthel cabinet, and means adapted to be acted uponV bythe compressedstacked cards in th drawer to disable the interfering means.

s9. TheV combination with a cabinet, yandV a drawer-mounted for movementinto and out of the cabinet through an opening in a Wall of the cabinet,the drawer having a front `wall and providinglmeans for retaining aplurality of cards in,stacked"relationship,'fof a wall adjustable in thedrawer for compressing the stacked cards against the frontwalljmeans forretaining the adjustable wallagainst movement out of a position to-whichiit has been adjusted, means for interfering with'movernent of thedrawer into housed'relationship `in the cabinet until the adjustable:wall has vcompressed `the cards, and means'operable' `by inwardmovement of the .drawer for making the .interfering means ineffectivelwhen there' are substantially nocards in the drawer.

Y 10.2 In combination; a cabinet,a drawer for retaining material storedin the cabinet, the drawer beingmounted .in the cabinet' for movement tobe capable of projection from the cabinet, a block `mounted for slidingmovement within the drawer,

meanspositionable between the'iblock and the cabinet to-cause the blockto slide along the vdrawer,when the block is not in compressingentaining material stored in the cabinet, :and where- Jin ablockisslidablerelatively to the stored material for placing the material undercompression; the combination with the block, of means for eiectingmovement of the block on movement of the drawer into housed relation tocompress the stored material, and means automatically to makethe'movement-eiecting'means effective when the `stored material isnotunder predetermined degree of compression and the drawer is beingmovedlinto the cabinet. f

Q12. In a cabinet wherein adrawer is movable into' and out vof housedrelation to the cabinet,

`and wherein the' drawer provides means for retaining material stored'invthe cabinet, and

`wherein ablock is slidable relatively to thev stored :material forplacing the. material under compresandere.

sion; the combination with theblock, ofi means;

' between 'the'cabinet and the .block for effecting makelthefmovement-effecting ymeans effective:

when the stored material is not under a predetermined degree. ofcompression andthe drawer l is being moved into thecabinet..

13. In combination with ay cabinet drawer-for retaining material stored.therein,.a follower blockl in the drawer, the block beingfiassociatedwithA the drawer for movement along the drawer into and out of.compressiveengagement with'` the stored material, theA block: having.an-'f opening therethrough, a nger pivotally fmounted'on; the

block in positiontomove throughthe 'opening'.

means for. causing lthefinger normallyxtoiex-- vtend through the'opening fand/project 'beyond the block .towards the stored material, andarod guided for vertical movement relative tvthe block, the` rod beingpivotally connected tothe finger and normally projecting abovelthedrawer.

14; In combination 'withy af cabinet drawer -fo'r retaining materialstoredttherein, a follower block in the-drawer,^-.the block being.associatedfwith theV drawer" for movement along the drawer linto and.out of compressive: engagement withv the stored material, the `blockhaving an opening therethrough, a pivot pin carriedinbearings'Iontheblock, a iinger xed to the pivot pin to move through the opening, meansfor causingthenger normally` to extend through the opening and projectbeyond the block towards the stored material, a rod guided for verticalmovement relative to the block, therod being pivotally connectedL to thefinger and nrmallyprojecting above the drawer, andmeans extending fromthe pivot pin to engage a part of the drawer to retract the iingerthrough the opening v=whenthe drawer is moved into the cabinet and nomaterial is stored in the drawer. 1- 1 2 ;-L

15. In cabinet drawer construction, wherein a draweris mounted formovement into and out of housed relation to the cabinet through anopening in a wall of the cabinet, the' drawerproviding'means forreceiving a plurality ofsubstantially identical cardsV instacked-relation butwith the cards disposed substantially vertically,`'means carried within the drawer tofengage against-the stack of cards inA the drawer. toi-compress them, and means for engagementlby the cardsbeing compressed by the compress'ir'igl means to move out of a visiblesignalling position beyond the i bounds of the drawer when thecompressing means is positively compressing material, the signallingmeans being constructed normally to extend into the signalling positionbeyond the normal bounds of the drawer. y

16. A follower block for a card-retaining drawer of a cabinet, whereinthe drawer is capable of retaining a pluralityk of substantiallyidenticaly cards in substantially vertical position, and wherein thefollower block is movable into position to compress the cards in thedrawer to vf10 drawer 'tothe-limits within the extentfof the drawer. M

4117.-'Ihe combination 4with a cabinet, and a drawer" mountedformovement intofand out of the cabinet through an opening in a-wall ofthe'I cabinet, .the drawer providing meansfor retains; ing aplurality of'cards in stacked relationship, ofmeans ini andfmovable with relationto. the

drawer/for compressing the stacked, cards, 'and'.

cooperating means between the fcompressing means `and the cabinet tocause an application of force to.; the cardsfcompressing ,means fromthe; cabinet onmovement V ofthe l'drawer into housed relationship in thecabinet when the cards in the drawer :are .not;'compressed;- thecooperating means -providing'meansto cause relative movementof thecompressing means and the vdrawer tocompress thecards to a-predetermineddegree of compression. i

.f 18. Thev combin-ationwith a cabinet, anda; ydrawerfmounted formovement into and zout. of the cabinetfthrough `an opening in a walloffthe cabinet,- the drawer .providing means Afor retaining afpluralityoi? cards in stacked relationship',

of a walladjustable in thedrawer for compressingV the stacked cards,means yfor retaining the ad-v justable"wall"against movement out ofafcardL-r compressing positon to which it has been adjusted," a rod.mounted upon; and movable with relation to the'adjustable wall, the rodbeing movable. from a positionv where it is in line to engagewithvafportion of theycabinet and interferewithmove-l mentof the drawer intothe cabinet toa position where it does not project into such interferingpo'-A sition,l means'for.v causing the rod normally to move-g to.cabineteengaging position, and' means' to withdraw the rod from thercabinet-engaging position when'theadjustable,wall is in compressingengagementwith cards within thedrawer;`

' 19. The 1 combination. with a: cabinet, and Tar drawer lmounted .formovement into and out of thef'cabinetf. through an opening Yinv a" wallof lthe cabinet,` the i drawer providing means for. retainl'f ing; a;plurality of cards in stacked relationship',vr of Va wall adjustableinthe drawer for compressing the` stacked cards, means for retainingthe. ad-v justable wall against-'movement'` out ofacardi compressingposition to which itfhas beenfadjusted.V- .af rod mounted vfor" movementrelative i to the adjustablewall, a -ngermovably mounted on:

- as the drawer is moved with relation to the cabcause all of themsimultaneously to :assume the substantially verticalposition, a membercarried by the block and mounted for movement between limits, one of thelimits being substantially entirely within the extent of the drawer, theother limit being beyond the extent of the drawer, and means carried bythe 'block to be engaged by the cards in the drawer for actuating themember to move it from its limit beyond the extent of the inet, the ngercomprising means to be engaged by cards within the drawer when theadjustable wall is compressing the cards to move the rod out ofcabinet-engaging position.

20. The combination with a cabinet, :and a drawer mounted for movementwith relation to portions of the cabinet and into and out of housedrelation to the cabinet through an opening in a wall of the cabinet, thedrawer having a front wall and providing means for retaining a pluralityof cards in stacked relationship, of a wall adjustable lin the drawerfor compressing the stacked cards against the front wall, means forretaining the adjustable wall :against movement out of acard-compressing position to which it thas been adjusted, a rod mountedvfor movement relative to the adjustable wall and across the cabinetopening into a position to engage with a cabinet portion on movement ofthe drawer towards lioiisendfrelation, a'fnger movablymounted onl theadjustable wall, the linger being positionedto eX- tend 'towards' cardsretained lin the drawer land being coupledl to thefrodgl and vmeans toproject the' rodflacross thelopeningbforengaging 'a portionfof thecabinet, the linger" comprising 'means tol-be engaged by the cards beingcompressed by the adjustable wall tov counteract,v the rod-projeotinglmeans and moveA the rodV to a f position where it will not engage acabinet portionzon movement of the drawer to housed relation, theadjustable walland the drawer having cooperatingmeans to make theprojecting means ineiective vwhen-the vadjustable wall is adjusted to apredetermined position with relation to the front wall and theV-draweris lsubstantially empty.

21.1 Thecombination with a cabinet, and ai drawer mounted 1for-movementinto and -out of' the cabinet through an opening inl fafwall'of 4thecabinet, the drawer having a front wall and providingmeans forretaininga plurality of cards' in stackedrrelationship, of a Walladjustablein'the drawer for compressing the stacked cards against` thefront WalLmeans for retaining the adjustable wall-against movement 'outof acard-compressing position to:.which it has been adjusted, arodmounted for movement relative to the adjustable wall and` acrossthelcabinet opening` into a, position toy engage with a cabinetportionon movement of I the? drawer towardshoused relation', a

finger movably mounted on the adjustable wall, the nger'fbeing.positioned relatively to the wall tofextend. towards `cards retained inthe drawer :and beingcoupledtto therodjmeans to project the rod acrosstheopeningfor engagingfa-portion" of thecabinet, the-i'inger-comprisingmeans to be engaged-:by the cards being compressed ibyffthe adjustable'Wall to. counteract the rod-projecting means andmove-the rodi-to aposition where itl will not engage a ycabinet portion onv movement of;the y-drawerz-to housed Y'relatiomthe finger having A:an extension,and'cam means on the drawer,

theA extension and the-caml means cooperating to.V make t the'projecting means ineffective when the 1 adjustable wall isV adjusted tova predetermined position. withdrelation: to the front Walland theydrawer is Asubstantially empty.

-22.rnfcombination; acabinet,V a drawer-.for

storing-.materia-L#theidrawer being movable into.

andfout of :housed relation within-.thecabinet,v

means Vvmovable=relatively to the-dij-awerfor engagingmaterial stored inthe drawer, means for effecting movement of ythe engaging means auto-ymatically from any position where the engaging means Yhas 4notcompressed thev material to engage saidfm'terial and then to compress`the material to a'predetermined degree as the drawer is moved intohoused position, and means for making the movement-'effecting meansrineffective when the engaging means has placed the stored materialunder "a predetermined degree of compression.

23. A follower block for avdrawer of a cabinet, the followerfblockzconsisting ofA a compressor plate for engaging Vmaterial storedinthe drawer to becompressed, a signalling device, means carried :by the:block ,for supporting thev signalling device at 'limits of movement;one of the limits being when thedevceis positioned substantiallyentirely within bounds dened bythe edges of the plate, the other limitbeing when the'device isbeyond saidbounds, and means carried by theblock for. actuatingthe supporting'means to posi'- tion the device atthe limit within said bounds when the. plate* engages and compresses thestored material.

24.` A follower blockfor ya drawer yof a-cabinet, the follower; blockAconsisting of a compressor plate for engaging'material stored in thedrawer to be.compressedzasignalling device,` means carried by the blockfor supporting the signalling device at limits of: movement, one of thelimits being when the device is positionedsubstantially entirely withinbounds defined by the edges of the plate, `the other `limitabeing 4whenthe device is beyond-said bounds, the supporting meansnormallyret-ainingthe `device at the limit beyond said' bounds,and'meanscarried by the block for actuating :the supportingV means toposition the de- Vice atthe limit within saidbounds when the plateengages .and'compresses the stored material.

. MILTON; EFFROS. CHARLES MILLS.V

REFERENCES CITED

